When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes--Desiderius Erasmus...
A room without books is like a body without a soul--Cicero...
You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend--Paul Sweeney...

Friday, August 26

It's the 21st century, is it possible to find a 25 year old woman who is not only a virgin, but never been kissed, vegan virgin?? Oh, she's also beautiful and a social activist. And guess what--their first kiss is their wedding kiss.

Someone over on one of the RT message boards commented about the either extreme of sex in romances lately, either there is too much or too little or none at all.

I had been thinking something very similar lately, but I think part of my thinking coincides with a long string of books with little sexual contact between the hero and heroine before page 250 (with the exception of Lisa Valdez's Passion, which has a sexual encounter during the opening scene of the book.) Even Marjorie M. Liu's Tiger Eye was light on the number of sex scenes, but the heroine does wake up with a tiger in her bed (literally). After I finished Tiger Eye I picked up a HH which had absolutely no sex whatsoever, which isn't a bad thing, but it would have been nice if you felt something of a spark between the hero and heroine.

And then I picked up Meggin Cabot's She Went All The Way (thanks Jay). What a nice read. A little romance, a little adventure and a little mystery all tied up in a good story. The right balance of sex to story line, and two smart characters who just seem right together.

I can't say that any of the books I've read this month should have had more or less sex, with the exception of the HH, a good sex scene might have sparked a little more sexual tension between the characters. I want the sex in romances to fit the story and story line, if I'm skipping sex scenes to get back to a good story, there are too many, if I'm wondering when they're actually going to do "it," there are too few. If the sexual tension is building and I'm enjoying the story, it doesn't matter when the first "encounter" occurs.

I think most romance readers want the right balance of story, tension and sex and when that happens, we've got a winner.

Wednesday, August 24

Well, that was one line that stopped me cold while reading Marjorie M. Liu's Tiger Eye. Maybe it's just me, but I NEVER want to read that line in a contemporary romance (I know, it's a paranormal, but that's no excuse, you know what? I don't want to read it in any romance--it would be bad in a medieval too). I realize it was a joke, but it's just a really bad line.

I went into reading this with the wrong frame of mind. When I noticed the "I LOVED this book. Anyone who loves my work , should love it too." quote from "New York Times Best-selling Author CHRISTINE FEEHAN" on the cover of the book, I knew it would be down hill from there. I find her [Feehan] books, over the top and melodramatic--I know she has a huge fangirl following, so obviously, I'm probably in the minority. I can't stand all the soul mate crap, and the "poor me, I suffer so" heros--YUCK.

Okay, this one wasn't that bad, but like Feehan and Kenyon it has way too many characters, who all have some sort of psychic powers and will probably all have spin-offs.

I can't be the only person who finds the dialogue between men in these books questionable. There is a scene between Hari (our hero) and Artur (a future hero) which I can't see happening in life.

"You are a dangerous man," Artur said quietly.

"Yes," Hari agreed. "But so are you."

..."Perhaps, although in a much different way. Our lives have not been easy, Hari, although I think I had the better bargain."

Hari leaned against the wall."What did you see when you touched me?"

"Enough. I always see more than I wish." Artur held up his gloved hands. "It is why I protect myself."

..."I would not wish my life on anyone."

"So you say, but the past has a way of circling us in our sleep."

"Spoken like a man who knows."

and so it goes on...

I realize that Hari is 2000 years old and has been stuck in a riddle box for the last 600 years, and Artur is Russian so their speech patterns may be different, but come on. Does anyone know men who talk like this, especially after knowing each for a day. Maybe my problem is I don't know any truly "dangerous" men, maybe "dangerous" men actually talk this way.

If you like Feehan and Kenyon, you'll probably like this book. If not, don't waste your time or money on this one.

OMG, was that bitchy enough, maybe I shouldn't even post this one--LOL.

Tuesday, August 23

Okay, "Bites" is probably to strong of a negative, but if I hadn't of loved the first half of this book, I would probably have disliked it as much as Faking It.

For me it was one of those books that's about 150 pages too long. It felt like the book ran out of story around page 250, but since it needed to be 391 pages, the last 140 seemed like filler.

It was another book with really bitchy Moms. I'm really starting to hate that--LOL. I love my mom and have a wonderful relationship with her, but if she ever talked to me the way Min's mother did to her, I'd be telling her to shut the f*** up, and that is one word I have never used in front of my mom and probably never will.

My husband is threatening to throw out books if I don't do something with the home office (these are books I've already read and they are taking over the space.) But, I feel like procrastinating and started reading Marjorie M. Liu's Tiger Eye. I'm not real sure about this one either, she's being compared to Feehan and Kenyon and I'm not a huge fan of either of them.

Monday, August 22

After reading the 2176 series and enjoying Liz Maverick's The Shadow Runners, I was really looking forward to Crimson City. A combination futuristic and paranormal, vampires, werewolves and humans all living together in a futuristic city that used to be LA. I wanted to love this book. I'm not even sure I liked it.

The synopsis over at RT is good one and I can see it getting 4 stars. Yet for me, I never connected with the story or the characters. I was distracted by all the "world" building, there is so much going on setting the stage for the series I never fully appreciated the romance and it certainly left questions unanswered. So, of course, I have to continue to read the series to see what happens. I'm heading to B&N tomorrow for the next book, Marjorie M. Liu's A Taste of Crimson.

But, I started reading Jennifer Crusie's Bet Me this morning and am enjoying it very much, and while I was blog hopping this morning I discovered Bam's review on her It's Not Chick Porn blog. She also has a great review of Linda Howard's Shades of Twilight.

Saturday, August 20

I had heard lots of buzz about this book and of course this sent me looking for the book. Found it at the UBS yesterday (new not used) and started reading it last night, and finished it this morning.

For some reason I didn't realize it was an "erotic historical romance." I was expecting a "hot" historical, this was beyond hot, obviously I didn't need to hunt down the reviews to realize it was erotica with a fabulous love story. At times it reminded me of the "Anonymous" Victorian Eroticas I've read and yet at it's heart it's a romance with a fantastic HEA.

This is not a book I will easily forget - although I was shocked by Passion’s opening pages, it is the convincing love story that rises out of such a torrid love affair that established it firmly in my mind. I don’t usually cry when reading a book, but this one had me in tears more than once. However, for my personal reading tastes, the level of eroticism ultimately kept Passion from earning an even higher grade.

The reviewer gave this book a "B". Don't get me wrong, this is a good grade (I'd have given it an "A-", but that's me.) I'm curious how "the level of eroticism" in an erotica keeps it from getting a higher grade. It didn't get an "A" because it's erotica? Does that mean this particular reviewer would never give an erotica/romantica anything higher than a B, and if that's the case, should the reviewer be reviewing these books? Was that convoluted enough?

Well, I did have a small issue with the book. There are two "mothers" in the book, both are two of the most evil characters you will find in a romance. I hate when "Mom" is the bad guy.

I spent almost 2 hours typing in my movie meme after being tagged by CindyS, please note, I ignored Maili's tagging everyone on her sidebar in the hopes I could avoid it all together, you know getting lost in the crowd, but when tagged by Cindy (hey I am her new best friend--LOL) I did it--it was funny, it had links, I worked really hard on it.

And, guess what the $%^^&*%$&% blogger crapped out on my when I hit "Publish Post." Lost the whole damn thing. I know to save long posts as I go *head to keyboard*

This showed up in yesterday's mail (thanks Rosario). And, I started peeking at it while I was slaving over a hot stove, pickling hot cherry peppers for my hubby, if you ever want to clear your sinuses take a whiff of hot vinegar, clears them right up and makes your eyes burn and water.

But, I digress, Do You Come Here Often? is a really good book--a Chick Lit set mostly in London. It's all about finding Mr. Right (you'll know him when you find him.) Grace is our heroine, she's been engaged for 2 years to Mr. Wrong (who doesn't want to set a date). She runs into an old friend (friend, being used loosely) from home, Jimi. Grace and Jimi share a cab after she has a fight with Mr. Wrong and he leaves her alone outside the restaurant where they just celebrated her 31st birthday. She walks out on Mr. Wrong and into a platonic relationship with Jimi (who has been dumped by his fiancee less than a week before their wedding.) And the story grows so nicely from there. There are two fabulous subplots--Rhian, a single mother trying to find love; and Maggie, a 50 something retiring and moving on to the next stage of her life.

Though it's "Chick Lit" it could be considered "Chick Lit Romance" as everyone finds their HEA--love that.

There is a scene in the book when Jimi realizes he's in love with Grace--they're in NYC (part of the plot that I wont go into), but there is a reference to an ashtray and cigarette ashes on a table in a French restaurant, and got me thinking when did the anti-smoking laws in restaurants go into effect in NYC, I ignored it until I finished the book, and than I start doing the math. Jimi and Grace haven't seen each other since 1988, over and over throughout the book, it's mentioned it's 13 years since they've seen each other--this book takes place in the fall of 2001, which completely stops me short. Obviously, I don't expect people from other countries to be as obsessed about 9/11 as New Yorkers were at that time (and probably still are), but in NYC you couldn't have avoided references to it, it was constantly all around you, in the news, on the street, a constant police and military presence. Not one mention of it in the book.

Thursday, August 18

Mommy mode kills brain cells and I have absolutely nothing profound to say, but I do have a couple of questions:

Why when you have a group of children together it seems like their behavior deteriorates to the worse behaved child? Seven children for a pool birthday party is too many, I now know why parents choose to have parties out.

Why would anyone with kids have one of those gorgeous glass shower surrounds you see on all the decorating shows? I can't go into the bathroom without being interupted and certainly can't take a shower without someone coming in to ask a question.

Monday, August 15

I know how many of you are big Yankee fans--LOL. Today we went to Yankee Stadium for a "Classic" tour. I thought I'd share some pictures.

First stop on the tour is Monument park.

We visited many of the Yankee old timers, but "The Mick" is special, my husband saw him play at the first game he ever went to in 1966, my DH was 7 years old.

Next we moved to the dugout, not a bad view from the bench. Notice the fence, it went up after Don Zimmer got hit in the head.

The stop after the bench was "The Locker room"--no pictures allowed. Personal space and all that, I think it's because they're slobs and their "personal spaces" are a mess. Bernie Williams has the biggest locker--he has the most seniority, but Derek Jeter has 2 lockers one for his "stuff" and one for all his fan mail (I'm not kidding.)

On to the press box, I think this is the best view of all. I sat at an AP work station, but my MIL sat at a station for a Japanese paper. Half the tour were Japanese tourists visiting the Matsui Mecca.

Our son and what must be one of the biggest bobblehead dolls on earth. This is in the gift shop, at this point Junior was too hungry to look at souvenirs and we had to talk him into getting something, and what does he want, maybe a hat, shirt or a jacket maybe a jersey, nope, not our kid, he wants a Yankee atv with removable rider!?!

And, there you have the official "Classic" Yankee Stadium tour. It takes a little over an hour and boy, do they keep you moving.

And on a serious note, they have a moving monument for 9/11, which was dedicated on the 1st anniversary.

Sunday, August 14

It has been too hot to do anything besides swim, lounge and read. In the past 2 days I finished 4 books.

Day of Fire -- Kathleen Nance

The Power of Two -- Patti O'Shea

The Scarlet Empress -- Susan Grant

Love According to Lily -- Julianne MacLean

The first three are the last of the 2176 series. I had already read the 1st and the 3rd from the series (The Legend of Banzai Maguire and The Shadow Runners.) Though I enjoyed all of them I think TLOBM and TSR were somewhat better.

I was surprised by Love According to Lily, I don't know why I thought it was Regency period because it's Victorian and I think it was better than her other books, not spectacular, but good.

I'm being lazy, I could be giving synopsis, but I'm not good at them and it would require too much thinking.

Friday, August 12

Instead of reading last night, I flipped through the new Romantic Times. A few books caught my eye.

Brenda Joyce has a new book coming out, The Masquerade. It's a "secret baby" story set in Regency England. I'm not really sure I buy into this, but I may have to get it just to see if it works.

Unmasked by Virginia Henley has a "strong willed and highly determined" heroine, does anyone else think this is synonymous with "fiesty" and probably TSTL??

Some Like it Wicked by Deborah Raleigh is described as a "delightful regency romp", but the hero's nickname is "Hellion". Please, am I the only person this drives crazy?? I hate nicknames like this. I have no idea if they are historically correct and to be honest, I'm not sure I care. I stopped reading Stephanie Laurens because of the stupid nicknames, well and the fact the books got boring.

Joan Wolf's To The Castle was given 3 stars and that is probably the right on target, I blogged about this a couple of weeks ago.

Books that look interesting:

A Ladies Guide to Rakes -- Kathryn Caskie, I've read her other two both were good, I like her writing style. I know, I know, it's a regency...

Reckless -- Shannon Drake, it's partially set in Egypt, which I love, but I've not liked her "Victorian" period books, and the synopsis didn't really appeal, but it's set in Egypt. Did I mention it's set in Egypt??

Out of the Night -- Robin T Popp, how about this, it's a "chupacabra" story, that's one I didn't think could be done, but I thinks it's mixed with a vampire story which makes it rather curious.

Three authors I've not read, but think I may try:

Karin Gillespie -- TheBottom Dollar Girls series.

Sophia Kinsella -- The Undomestic Goddess

Chelsea Quinn Yarbro --The Saint-Germain novels.

And there was one "Historical Erotic Romance" that caught my eye--literally, I liked the cover in the ad for the publisher (which I can't remember). A Week of Pleasure by Christie Kelley. It got a good review and had an interesting synopsis. It's an ebook, since I don't have a hand held device, I'd have to read it on the computer, I'm not so sure I want to do that. I'll see if I can load a picture of the cover later.

Thursday, August 11

Well, I'm completely out of my great reading binge. Between birthday parties and issues with my husband's side of the family, my reading groove is shot to hell.

I've finished all of 3 books this month. I started Elizabeth Vaughan's The Warprize Tuesday and finally finished it this morning. I didn't get all the hoopla, it was good, but maybe it's just me at times I felt like I was reading through a fog. The book is written in the first person and since at times the heroine didn't always understand what was going on around her, we were supposed to be as questioning as she was. I'm not that into fantasy so maybe that was my problem.

Good news, my Barnes and Noble order came, it finishes the 2176 series for me.

Day of Fire -- Kathleen Nance

The Power of Two -- Patti O'Shea

The Scarlet Empress -- Susan Grant

I also picked up 2 Patricia Cabot's at the UBS (Educating Caroline and Kiss the Bride.

I also picked up the new Romantic Times--like I need to order more books. There's a cranky letter to the "Mailbag" about the "offensive" covers in some of the advertisements and a response that's just as cranky from RT. I'm never quite sure why people complain about the ads in RT, if you feel the need to hide your RT because of the book covers, do you have to hide your books too?

Monday, August 8

So far this month I've read a big whopping 1 1/2 books. Yes, it is August 8th and I have finished one book. Last month I read 24 books, this month I'll be lucky if I get half way to my pledge.

The Perfect Rake--by Anne Gracie, sorry Sybil, I wasn't all that impressed, another Regency romance in a long string of regency era pieces. I'm really giving up on these--I swear, I really mean it this time.

The Companion--by Susan Squires is turning out to be a very good book, but my reading time has been next to nil. I'm hoping to finish it after Junior goes to bed, which should be in about 5 minutes, so I really need to go.

Have a great night and happy reading.

Oh, one more thing for Kristie and Wendy--GO YANKEES, GO YANKEES, GO YANKEES. Next Monday we're going for a tour of Yankee Stadium, The Clubhouse, Monument Park. I'll tell you ladies all about it.

Friday, August 5

It's been a week since I've had enough time to actually sit down and blog about anything. I was going to whine and complain about how busy I've been and having no time to myself, but I'm sure nobody wants to hear my griping. I realized if all I've got to complain about is being "too" busy, I'm rather blessed.

Junior turns 4 tomorrow, I'm not really sure where the time has gone. But, I really love being home with him. Right now he is sleeping in my spot on our bed. I'll move him to his bed in a few minutes. I know we "shouldn't" let him sleep in our bed, but he was watching the Yankees with Daddy, both are sound asleep.

I doubt I'll have time to get on-line tomorrow (lots of company coming), and Sunday we're going to the County Fair.